Sabrina

Well, I cruised 6 weeks after surgery. Typically vacation drinking for me entails carrying a martini in each hand to balance myself as I walk around the ship LOL I did not drink much this time, but when I did I had no issues. My tolerance was a little lower, but not much. Probably because I couldn't sip an adult beverage while eating. I also made homemade margaritas last night to watch Idol. They went down really easily. It really is empty calories, so I am going to keep having a beverage down to 1 or 2 one night a week at most. The best "diet" alcoholic beverage is a vodka martini up. Not an insane amount of calories, no carbs (or virtually none), and more bang for your buck so to speak. You can sip on one of those for an hour no problem. Now if you slam it, well then you may get a tee bit wipsy

I've never had that problem. I could feel my port when I had that stupid lap-band, but have not noticed feeling my tummy with this surgery.

The scars aren't bad, very small. My stretch marks from having our babies are far worse than the scarring is.

I was sleeved six weeks prior. I remember someone was asking about cruising after the sleeve, but I don't remember where the thread was. Anyway, no issues at all. I ate most of an omelet for Breakfast, lunch no issues, and dinner. I would take a couple of bites of my appetizer then try to eat as much meat as I could from my entree. I also ate part of a BLT from room service every single day. I lost 6 lbs while on the cruise Doc said I would be good as new in 6 weeks and he was absolutely correct. I feel great.

I have been a member of cruisecritic for years LOL We have never booked an excursion through the ship either. We always see what they have to offer to get an idea, then research doing it on our own. We've probably saved thousands of dollars over the years by doing this. Sometimes we just get off the ship and see what tours they are offering on the pier. They always have something we are interested in doing.

I had mine done at an MTF no problemo. I realize it is too late now, but OP could you have had it done at Ft Campbell? I went to Mexico and got the band paced at my expense and on the DL when I was active duty. They saw me for the band and did fills at the MTF here even when I was still active. Said it was already in me, so what was the point in arguing LOL They also took it out - thank God - and then gave me the sleeve. By that time I was a dependent though and no longer AC myself.

This is pure speculation, so take it for what it's worth. While doing the glucose test for my last pregnancy they determined that I was actually hypoglycemic. I get nauseous and shaky if I go too long between meals. I too was usually like that in the morning. It was, for me anyway, from going too long without food. Maybe you can do the morning sickness diet and have some ginger tea and a couple of saltines when you wake up? It makes me feel a whole lot better.

I had a band prior to the sleeve as well. I was uncomfortable every single day for 5 years with that damn thing. I was discussing it with my doc yesterday when he told me he is doing three more band to sleeves this week. My band eroded, put a hole in my stomach, and I had to wait 6 months before my sleeve. I actually wrote about this yesterday to one of my friends. I think we all finally convinced her NOT to get the band. She is having bypass, but I suppose that is better than the band. This is what I said to her: "I told him to stop putting that damn band into people LOL His comment was, "well, I can't comment, but I agree with you more and more every day." I then agreed that the more research there is, the worse the band looks. He nodded and said, "no comment," once again. His resident was agreeing too. I cannot tell you how much better... normal, really, that I feel now. I felt horrible every day I had that band. Even on good days. It sucks when you can't enjoy one bite of food because it hurts so much going down. Now start getting your mind geared up. I won't lie, the first month sucked. I am seven weeks out now though and am very happy I made this decision "

Since I love the lox so much, I had every intention of having them throw everything but the bagel on my plate. My tastes have changed though. I did not care for it at all this trip. Usually I am sending my husband to the deli at odd times to grab one for me LOL We have 4 small kids so cave tubing wasn't even on our list of things to do. I appreciate the info though. My husband is currently researching buying a home for retirement in Belize. We are in our 30's and won't be retiring for a while. He is such a dork, but perhaps we can cave tube when we move there :thumbup: Oregondaisy, I would love the number or website. We are beach people and will likely just do that at every port. With the kids it is the easiest thing to do. We did leave them on board one port last week so we could get our massages. Pure heaven LOL

We went on a spring break cruise too. Booked our next cruise on the drive home. We are doing western Caribbean in September on Triumph. I looking for excursions in Belize and Roatan now. Definitely taking the kids out of school from now on LOL

You did just have surgery about a week ago. I also say take it easy. Your body is still healing. Hope it resolves soon.

Really? Where did you go? We sailed on the Splendor from Long Beach. Wouldn't it be funny if we were on the same cruise? LOL

The protein shakes were really thick and gross to me too. I did find some of these whey protein "shots" in GNC. 46grams per shot. I am doing that now.

I was telling a friend today that the first month was hell for me. Hang in there, it gets so much better, I promise :crying: My recovery was pretty fast. I milked it for a good 2-3 weeks just so I could sit on my butt though LOL I too think you went back to work too soon. I'd stay home until next Monday if you can.

LOL I think my typical gain was 8lb per day :crying: I also drank next to no alcohol. For me that is a very weird thing. Vacations are made for drinking. No desire this time though. The couple of cocktails that I did have went down realllly easily though :blushing:

I was sleeved Feb 1 and am down about 30 some lbs. I can eat anything and it feels great! With the band I was uncomfortable every single day for 5 years. I had a follow up appointment right before our cruise and then today (cruised March 14-21). The doc was quite impressed that I lost 6 lbs while on a cruise. I was a bad girl and got a BLT from room service every day too. Granted, I only ate maybe 3 bites, but I should not have done that. I was a diet dr pepper and beer fiend. Now, no desire. When I asked the doc about ever having carbonation again he said, "I should tell you no. Really though, if it doesn't bother you then drink it. If it hurts you then you won't be doing it again." Definitely true LOL I drank it all while I had my band and never any issues with the carbonation. Now I get my unsweet tea through the McD's drive thru rather than my diet coke and am happy with it Everyone is doing such a fantastic job!

I had surgery a couple of days after you guys (2/1). My doctor gave me the all clear already. He just told me to ease into it, "No bread, no steak until I give you the all clear. And NO CARBONATION" he knows that I like beer and diet dr pepper LOL

I have a closet full too since I was skinny until the last couple of years :wink0: We are going on a cruise in a couple of weeks. I am down over 25lbs after only 3 weeks post op. I did buy a formal in size 14. We are also taking another cruise in 10 months. I bought 2 more formals; one a 12 and one a 10. I love formal night on the ship as it is the only opportunity I have to dress like a girl LOL I started out 3 weeks ago as a size 16/18 (depending upon the cut). I have no doubt that 14 will fit me. If it doesn't, well that's why Spanx were created LOL BUY THE DRESS :ohmy: I figure if I am thinner, then I can always get one altered and taken in. It's hard to let stuff out unless you have the extra fabric.

I had mine from April 04, until July 09. I know what you mean. I gained 40 or 50 lbs as soon as that thing came off. It actually felt good to eat again. I'll be totally honest though. I'll bet 2/3 of that weight gain was beer. I love the taste of beer. Once that was out, it was open season on Sam Adams. Of course I can't like something like Coor's light which is cheap and low in calories. I have to go for pricey and fattening LOL I'm telling you though, the first 2 years were ok for me. After that I was in nearly constant pain (apparently from the hole it was eroding in my tummy as I was "bubbly" all the time and doubled over with painful gas). I hated the food getting stuck and still being hungry. Once I started to have that gassy discomfort and tummy aches, that's when I started to put weight back on too. It happened to coincide shortly after I became pregnant with #3, but I honestly do not think one think effected the other. Pregnancy does not cause band erosion :wink0: I went on to have another baby on the band (2 band babies) and was uncomfortable every single day then too as well as for a year an a half after she was born.

I had the band. It eroded and made a huge hole in my stomach. My sister nearly died when hers eroded. I lost weight with the band (she didn't lose that much), but I was always sooooo uncomfortable. I was miserable for years with that thing in me. I am 3 weeks out from surgery with the sleeve. So far it is fantastic. I am not uncomfortable and will eventually be able to eat anything unlike with the band. I was always hungry with the band and food got stuck all the time. My sister would puke all the time from hers. I am so happy I no longer have the band. You won't regret your decision to sleeve.

I had my sleeve done here on base. Definitely check to see if the AF (I assume you guys are air force due to your locations) doc in Turkey or England does them. If he does, then you won't pay anything as tricare prime will cover it. This surgery was nothing compared to a csection. My doc sent me home with a pain ball intact. It was wonderful and numbed my whole abdomen. Due to this, I was up and walking in the ICU pretty much as soon as I woke up. Having that pain ball was like night and day with this surgery vs my lapband removal and placement. Same premiss and same types of incisions. Recovery is really pretty easy. My doc cleared me for exercise, but not too strenuous at 2 weeks post op. I am going to opt for only walking for the time being. I developed an abscess after my band removal (it eroded and he had to close the big hole that it caused in my stomach too) and that still hurts if I try to work my abs to much. I personally wouldn't be comfortable (just the thought of tearing, not pain) to do abs until about 4 weeks post op.

I'm going to try that workout too. Thank you. I lost 80lbs in 6 months on the lapband. I had no loose skin. I also was a stick figure all my life until I had two babies back to back. It could be argued that my skin wasn't stretched out for a long period of time, therefore it snapped back into place. My youngest at the time was 9 months when I had the band put in. Now that my band went to hell and I had two more back to back babies (gaining 80lbs again) and my skin has been restretched, no way it is going to snap LOL For now I put on my trusty spanx when I don't want rolls to rival the Michelin tire man.

I'm sorry to hear about this too. If you were hooked up to an IV, then the weight gain could simply be fluids. It takes a good few days to pee them all out it seems. Best of luck to you.

According to myfitnesspal, I only average between 300-400 calories per day. I am stuck and haven't lost any weight for a week. Granted, it's only been 3 weeks since my surgery, but I didn't think I'd stall quite yet LOL I am wondering if I should up my calories a bit. See if that would jumpstart the loss once more. I don't know. I am pretty confused right now. I'm not really hungry until late at night (like now). I am sure I could have a stick of string cheese and be fine, but I don't want to eat more than I need to eat. I'll be heading to bed in a few minutes, so why bother eating? KWIM Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

I'm not having that many carbs. Mostly I eat a greek yogurt or cottage cheese for breakfast, a protein shake for lunch (actually I sip on one all afternoon), then a large spoonful of whatever I made the kids for dinner. I sip on water all day. If I am out then I'll grab an unsweet tea from McD's. No calories or carbs in that though. I wonder if I should try to add a couple of snacks in there to get my calories a little higher? I'm satisfied with what I am eating though.